Smokeout To Urge Students To Kick The Habit

The SHSU Student Health Center is asking smoking students
to ‘butt out’ for a day with the Great American
Smokeout on Thursday (Nov. 17).

That day, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the Lowman Student
Center Mall Area, the center will highlight the dangers of
tobacco use and the benefits of quitting, as advised by the
American Cancer Society.

The SHC will also encourage those who smoke to refrain for
at least one day in recognition of the American Cancer Society’s
29th annual Great American Smokeout. More people quit smoking
and using other forms of tobacco on this day than any other
day of the year.

"The average smoker tries to quit five times before he
or she is successful, said Michelle Lovering, SHC programming
coordinator. “ Smoking cessation is very challenging,
but the Great American Smokeout is a great day to quit with
others, so that you can go through the tough times together."

In the United States, tobacco use causes nearly one in five
deaths, killing nearly 438,000 Americans each year, and is
the single most preventable cause of death in our society,
according to the American Cancer Society.

"Smoking cessation is the single most cost-effective
public health intervention for adults" Tom Hill, SHC
medical doctor.

Students who commit to quit will receive a free quit kit,
information about smoking and other items to help smokers
stop, and those who sign a smoking cessation contract will
be entered into a drawing to receive free gifts from local
business.

A free carbon monoxide screening with the “Smokerlyzer”
will also be available to students.

“The Smokerlyzer is a great tool to monitor levels of
carbon monoxide,” said Lovering. “It (carbon monoxide)
is a poisonous gas that can remain in the blood stream for
up to 24 hours after smoking.”

According to the Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol
Survey administered from 2003-2004 at SHSU, which included
questions about tobacco use, approximately 23 percent of students
reported that they had smoked a cigarette in the past 30 days.

Non-smokers are also invited to participate in the Great American
Smokeout. The SHC would like to prevent non-smokers or social
smokers from becoming regular smokers, Lovering said.

For more information, contact Lovering at 936.294.4347 or
mlovering@shsu.edu For information about the Great American
Smokeout, visit http://www.cancer.org.